Decorative artwork and process of producing same.



Patented Mar. ll, I902.

No. 695,0). T. N. SWINNEBTON.

DEGORA IVE ART WORK AND PROCESS OF PRDDUBING SAME.

(Application filed av. 25, 1901.)

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#WAK v WTNEEEEE I ffi/WFM UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS N. SWVINNERTON, OF ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

DECORATIVE ARTWORK AND PROCESS OF PRODUCING SAME.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,010, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed November 25, 1901. Serial No. 83,655. (No specimens.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS N. SwINNEn TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 1631 Wesley avenue, St. Paul, in the county of Ramsey and State of Minnesota,

have invented a new and useful Improvement.

in Decorative Artwork and in an Improved Process of Producing the Same, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

My invention relates to the ornamentation of fabrics, and especially to pile fabrics, (velvet, plush, velveteen, and the like;) and it consists, first, in outlining thereon suitable designs, using for the purpose a heated stylus or chemicals, if preferred, scorching therewith the surface of the pile; second, the painting or coloring of that portion of the fabric lying within the, outline thus limned, and, third, the cutting away of that portion of the fabric lying without the ornamented portion when the design outlined is to form the boundary of ornamented fabric. My purposes in thus burning the outlines and then coloring the incised portions are twofoldfirst, to form barriers over and beyond which the liquid coloring will not run, and, second, to give a relief eifect to the colored portions not otherwise attainable.

The drawing represents a piece of fabric thus ornamented having thereon portions of a holly wreath and of an ivy wreath, either of which is adapted for an interior or boundary design, and as the treatment of both sub jects is identical a detailed description of one will suffice for both.

Having selected a suitable piece of velvet for the purpose, (a pale green being preferable,) with a heated stylus Itrace the outlines of my holly branch, its leaves, stems, and berries, veins of the leaves, &c. I then proceed to fill in or color the design, preferably using oil-paints for the purpose,,(mixed very thin,) using. bright red for the berries, browns and grays for the stems, varying shades of green for the leaves, browns for the shadows, and yellows for the high lights, taking care not to use the paint so thick nor in such quantities as to mat the standing pile, but thick enough and in such quantities as to saturate the base of the fabric and to cement together the filaments thereof, therebypreventing the raw edges of the fabric from fraying or the threads thereof from disintegrating when 'the marginal portion thereof shall have been cut away. lVhen the coloring thus applied shall have become thoroughly dry and when it is desirable to use this particular design as a centerpiece, (a mat 0r doily,) with a sharp knife or a pair of scissors I remove the marginal portion of my fabric, (the portion lying without the design,) thus leaving the irregular outline of the leaves and stems of a'holly wreath, as shown in A; but should I wish to use it as a drape, pillow-cover, or the like I retain the margin, as shown by B.

This character of decorative artwork is adapted to a great variety of subjects, is applicable to a great number of purposes, and admits of the display of true artistic taste and talent, for when suitable subjects are chosen-such, for example, as wreaths and bouquets, autumn-leaves, birds, butterflies, and the like -'and are artistically treated there is a boldnessof relief, a brilliancy of coloring, a play of lights and shades, anda depth of tone, mingled with the velvety softness of the standing pile, which render the finished products things of beauty.

Inpractice I use velvet or velveteen of a light tint, creamy white,. pale blues, and greens being especially adapted to the purpose, and in burning in my outline and markings (the veins of leaves, the feathers of birds, the spots on butterflies, &c.) I so regulate the heat of the stylus as to produce graduations of light or dark in scorching the pile, thus giv ing pleasing eifects therein.

I do not wish to confine myself to the use of the stylus or a hot iron in scorching the pile and producing my design, for it is apparent that the same or a similar result may be produced through the use of chemicals, such as acids or alkalies; but I prefer the stylus, because of the danger attending the use of chemicals.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. As a new article of manufacture, the herein-described ornamental article of volvet, or other pile fabric, with painted figures or designs thereon, and having the marginal lines and markings of said designs burned to give relief and to prevent the fresh paint from spreading over and beyond the said outline, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, the

herein-described ornamental pile fabric, the ornamentation thereon consisting of colored and unoolored portions, the colored portions being separated from the unoolored portions by means of lines burned on the standing pile by means of a stylus, substantially as described.

3. The method of ornamenting velvet or other pile fabric, which consists in burning the outlines and markings of the design, and

painting the portions lying within the design so traced, for the purposes of pleasing effect and to prevent the fraying of raw edges, or the separating of filaments forming the fabrio, substantially as described.

THOMAS N. SWINNERTON.

Witnesses:

L. F. MOINTOsH, E. U. HANSON. 

